Avocado and Alphonso Mango Cultivation to Begin in Telangana
Hyderabad: Telangana will soon start growing avocados and Alphonso mangoes, two highly popular and nutritious fruits. The state’s weather conditions are suitable for their cultivation, and the government is making plans to promote fruit farming.
At an event launching the NABARD State Focus Paper, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka said that Maharashtra is well known for Alphonso mangoes and has successfully exported them. Since Telangana has similar land and resources, farmers in the state will be encouraged to grow Alphonso mangoes as well. He pointed out that scientific farming was ignored in the state for the last ten years, and now, officials from the Agriculture Department and NABARD should focus on improving cultivation techniques. Farmers will be supported in using modern methods like greenhouses, polyhouses, drip irrigation, and sprinklers.
The Deputy CM also mentioned that under the Forest Rights Act, farmland has been given to tribal farmers. These lands will be used for growing crops such as palm oil, avocados, and bamboo, which will also help in protecting forest areas.
Vikramarka emphasized the crucial role of NABARD in supporting agriculture. He urged NABARD to provide more loans to farmers, strengthen farmers’ producer organizations, and develop basic infrastructure in rural areas. He also stressed the need to expand digital banking services to help farmers.
He highlighted that modern irrigation methods like drip irrigation and sprinklers can bring significant improvements in farming. He cited Israel as an example, where advanced techniques have led to agricultural success despite extreme heat conditions.
To reduce dependence on imported edible oils, the government has set a goal to cultivate palm oil on one lakh acres across the country. Malaysia is a global leader in palm oil cultivation, and Vikramarka stressed that Telangana should also strengthen its palm oil farming. Telangana is already known for its mangoes, turmeric, chilies, and millets. Therefore, NABARD should support the establishment of cold storage facilities and provide international-standard training to farmers.
